Backup tapes: LTO3: Half used capacity

Hi Michael,

I'd suggest the following:

1. Use HP Library and Tape Tools (HP LTT) to update the firmware on your tape drive.

2. Get the latest drivers (and maybe any available updates too!) for Backup Exec 12.x and install them. Once done, run the Device Configuration Wizard and install the latest Symantec drivers. Try a backup job again, and post the results here...

Laters!

When I see the screenshot it looks like there is not used any compression.

What kind of data are you trying to backup? Maybe it is uncompressable data?

If data is not compressed, it is 1:1 which means that the tapes would fill up as much as possible...not stop at 50%.

Used capacity is 390GB, so that is the uncompressed media size.

LTO3 drives have on-board compression - Compression on a software level, increases server overheard.

ZeRoC00L is right on the money - depends on the data - Vote +1

so is CraigV - update tape firmware - Vote +1 - have your vendor do this if still in warranty.

Compression is irrelevant.... you should ALWAYS be able to get the native capacity of the media.  Michael should be able to get AT LEAST 390 GB on that tape.  He is only getting 243 GB and the tape is reporting that it is full.

Michael, has it always been this way or did this isse develop recently?  Have you contacted HP?

390GB is the native capacity of the tape.  When you format the tape and write to it, there are going to be overheads, so you would not get 390GB of uncompressed data onto the tape.   This situation is like buying a 500GB harddisk and then seeing only 400+Gb after formatting it.

Have you tried to (quick) erase a tape and then tried to make a backup ?

Have you tried to get the same tape from your supplier and go step-by-step with the setup?Maybe it is fault by manufacturing.

Could be true. BTW, how (physically and logically) LTO is being formatted?